Microbial Contamination of Currency Notes in Circulation in Enugu Markets

Currency notes are handled extensively in daily commercial transactions and have been identified as potential fomites capable of harboring diverse microbial pathogens. This study assessed the microbial contamination of Nigerian naira notes collected from market traders in Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, Enugu State, in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. A total of 120 naira notes of various denominations were randomly sampled from food vendors, butchers, and pharmacies. Swabbing technique was used for sample collection, and standard microbiological analyses were performed including total viable count, total coliform count, fungal count, and specific pathogen isolation. Bacterial growth was detected on 96.7 percent of sampled notes. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 74.2 percent of notes, Escherichia coli from 38.3 percent, and Salmonella species from 11.7 percent. Aspergillus species were the most prevalent fungal contaminants at 28.3 percent. Notes from food and meat vendors had significantly higher contamination levels. The study underscores the role of currency notes as passive vehicles for pathogen transmission in market settings and recommends public hygiene awareness, routine handwashing after handling money, and investigation of polymer-coated note alternatives to reduce microbial retention in Nigeria. Keywords: currency notes, microbial contamination, Enugu, Staphylococcus aureus, public health.